So we started with the question: “Can we can build an educative kit based on DIY electronics that employs applied principles to significantly help hyperactive and fidgety children?”
We did not find research that correlates DIY electronics with such difficulties at all -not to mention in our favour- but there are many toys & games designed for our -presumably- target children, that are build on some very particulate principles.
Since, to my knowledge, there is no similar kit specifically designed to encourage distraction free, conscious engagement with which many kids struggle, we can base on this concern, attempting to design a product to specifically address these difficulties.
Needless to say this is all lots of work. We need to design 'models' and abstract 'spaces' within our kit's instructables that put the children in a 'focusing zone'. That's an extremely interesting challenge.
We also need to think a lot about the marketing, we may have to be careful not exclude the rest of the consumers perceiving our product as 'for stupid/problematic/hyperactive' so not ‘my perfect little angels’. So we can just stress how we have designed our product focusing on the above, and then get feedback from families with fidgety kids to open that market just 'incidentally'.
Below are some principles we can use. I need to break them down, cluster and organise and correlate them to specific features of our product/service.
- Organize: Prepare the child quickly summarizing what they will do.
- Review the previous activity & so far progress.
- Set expectations to be fulfilled within each particular task
- Set behavioral expectations (describe how they will feel), I know it sounds creepy but if carefully done, it's for good.
- State needed material, components etc.
- Explain how & where to ask for help if needed.
- Be predictable! Structure and consistency are cruicial!
- Help them stay on task, supporting participation and giving feedback.
- have check points and progress 'flags'.
- Ask probing questions. Wait (timer) before giving the answer.
- Ask follow up questions (give follow up tasks, e.g change the interval of blinking etc)
- Help them identify and correct their own mistakes. E.g ask them to check all the connections, lines of code etc.
- Encourage working with learning partners.
- Provide follow up directions.
- Keep each step short (brief).
- Use 'storyboards', material to fill up & follow.
- Storytelling: Encourage the child to explain exactly what she has accomplished and how, what the next steps will be and what will eventually be accomplished.
- Identify frequent mistakes: Keep a dictionary of frequent mistakes & corrections (troubleshooting).
- 'Quiet places': Encourage the parents to keep the room 'noise free' (as well as optical distraction free).
- Patterns: Use patterns and analogies to introduce new material in a familiar way.
- Mastery of symbols: Explain comprehensively all the symbols used.
- Mnemonics: Use catch phrases and Initialization (such as S.M.A.R.T)
- Color coded symbols and procedures (e.g attachment, loops etc).
- Get them to read twice every task description.
- Clue words/synonyms to help the child remember and associate the words/tasks.
- Real life examples of world applications related to the project.
- Graph paper to take sketchnotes and make diagrams if needed.
- Clean the space, keep only what's needed for each task.
- Use a calendar (and discreet timers when applied)
- Break down one long assignment into sequenced, interrelated activities.
- Venn diagrams: Use and teach the child how to read & use them.
- Checklists of needed supplies, tasks etc.
- Give praise immediately!
- Vary the statements given as praise (a lot!)/
- Be consistent & sincere (try to earn/deliver real life 'bravos' for the child)
- Remove distractions (again).
- Give tangible rewards.
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